The other night my boyfriend and I were looking for a bite to eat when we passed by a place in Hillcrest that I’d never noticed before. He agreed it looked good, so we popped in for some dinner.

The décor was cool, the light was low, and the bar was impressive. The host immediately sat us at the best table in the restaurant- a little round one in the corner where we could snuggle up to each other after weeks apart. All combined, we were off to a good start.

We ordered up a bottle of red and started pouring through the menu of plates meant for sharing. After a brief introduction and recommendations from the server, we settled on the fried brussels sprouts, tuna poke, and short rib ravioli.

The poke came out first and disappeared quickly. Served on massive crisps, it was slightly salty and very melt-in-your-mouthy.

The sprouts arrived soon after and they really stole the show. I can’t claim to know the recipe, but I think it includes balsamic vinegar, unicorn tears, and some other magical ingredients not found at Whole Foods. They weren’t much to look at, but the taste was simply divine. Hands down the best I’ve ever had, and that’s really saying something! Seconds later the ravioli hit the table. They, too, were delicious. The filling was tender and succulent, and the mushrooms on top made the perfect complement. I would order them again in a heartbeat. We debated dessert at length, but ultimately passed up the peanut butter and chocolaty goodness for some frozen yogurt near home. Next time, though, I’m going all the way! It was the perfect spot to catch up with my gent after he’d been away for a while, and we both left feeling happy and satisfied. If you’re ever in Hillcrest, I recommend popping by!